Rotary engine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H.'W. W ITE. ROTARY ENGINE. No. 506,758. Patented Oct. 17,1893.

I r l altar/mew (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'. H. W. WHITE.

ROTARY ENGINE. No. 506,758. Patented Oct. 17, 1893.

25PM. 7 MQMW. 22:: WMWH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM W. WHITE, OF YANKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

ROTARY ENGIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,758, dated October17, 1893. I

Application filed September 19, 1891. Renewed March 27, 1893- Serial No.467,879. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM W. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Yankton, in the county of Yankton and State of SouthDakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RotaryEngines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view. Fig. 2 isa perspectiveview of the rotary piston wheel, the outer casing detached. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the rotary piston wheel, complete. Fig. i is abottom plan view of the water or steam chest. Fig. 5 is a section on theline a;m Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail of one of the valves. Fig. 7 issectional view of one of the valves on the line 2-2, Fig. 5.

This invention has relation to rotary motors adapted to be operated byeither water or steam power, and it consists in the novel constructionand combination of parts as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, the letter Adesignates a rotary piston wheel, which is held on a vertical shaft B.This wheel comprises a cylinder preferably hollow, provided on its outersurface with a series of inclined spiral flanges a, formingcorresponding grooves or channels a. The grooves enter from the upperend at an angle oblique to the surface thereof, extending in thedirection of the movement of the wheel to the points 0, where each makesan acute angle with itself, thence running in the reverse directionspirally and obliquely to the bottom of the wheel preferably at an angleof about forty-five degrees.

D designates a second hollow cylinder, open at top and bottom which isplaced around the wheel A tightly, so that each groove or channel formsa closed pocket or chamber. The

whole is inclosed in an outer casing or cylinder E, in which it turns,and at the upper portion of said casing is the annular steam or havingports or apertures k therein.

water chest E, which is located above and directly over the mouths ofthe grooves or channels.

F is thesupply pipe, through which the steam or water is admitted to thechamber F. Water or steam from this chamber enters the mouths of thegrooves or channels, and is thrown against the angles at c, givingaforward movement to the wheel, which, with gravity, causes the water orsteam to travel downward along the spiral flanges. That which enterseach channel is confined therein,thereby utilizing not only its pressureor head, but also its weight, and producing a maximum of power from aminimum amount of water or steam. As the water travels down the channelsin a direction reverse to the direction of the revolution of the wheel,it is not carried by the motor after its force is spent, but is thrownentirely off and away by centrifugal force; so that all friction andbacklash is prevented, and the full power of the motor made available.This motor is especially adapted for use by the flow of water fromartesian wells, but is capable of use where ordinary water motors arenow employed.

The shaft B is provided with suitable bearings, and may be supplied withany suitable gearing for transmitting power.

By regulating the head or pressure in the steam or water chest, thespeed of the motor may be regulated to the desired power.

Each port f in the steam chest is provided with a valve H, by means ofwhich the Water or steam may be entirely shut off from said port, or itsadmission therethrough regulated.

Said valve may be of the form shown, comprising an outer cylinder Kbolted to the bottom of the steam chest around a port, and havingtherein openings or ports 70. Sliding in this cylinder, and carried by astem L which projects through a stuffing box at the top of the chest, isa second cylinder K also On the projecting end of the spindle is a handnut l,

by means of which the spindle may be operated to regulate the valve. Thebottom of the chest has annular grooves m provided with packing, whichfit on the upper edge of the cylinder or casing E, the wholebeingsecured to place by bolts.

I ports in the bottom of said chest communieating with the mouths ofsaid inclosed pockets or channels, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with the rotary wheel, its inclosed spiral pockets orchannels, and the surrounding casing, of the pressure chest F, supportedon said casing, the ports in the bottom of said chest, the valves H, onefor each port, said valves comprising each an outer cylinder K, boltedto the bottom of the chest around a port, and having therein openings orports 70, a second cylinder K sliding in said outer cylinder, and alsohaving ports, a stem projecting upwardly from said inner cylinder, astuffing box in the chest for said stem, and a hand nut on the upper endof said stem, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

- HIRAM W. WHITE. Witnesses:

PHIL. K. FAULK, ISAAC PILES.

